Colm M. Hilliard
Question:75 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Labour the way in which the £250,000 provided for in Vote 33 subhead H in the abridged version of the 1991 Book of Estimates will be spent.
Written Answers. - Book of Estimates.
The new Labour Relations Commission will be responsible for a number of existing services which are being transferred to it and also for a range of new activities. Funding at present provided for in respect of the existing services will be allocated to the commission when it is established. The additional £250,000 is being provided to meet the extra costs which will be involved for the commission in carrying out its complete range of functions.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:76 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Labour the reason for the increase in Vote 33 subhead P3 in the abridged version of the 1991 Book of Estimates; and the way in which the £8,176,000 will be distributed.
The increased allocation in subhead P3 — FÁS Capital — of my Department's Vote, which takes account of EC assistance available under the Structural Funds, is being provided to enable FÁS to continue to replace, update and expand the equipment in training centres and to increase the amount of training it provides in new technologies. It will also enable FÁS to continue its programme of modernisation of employment service offices in order to provide a better service to the public.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:77 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Labour the reason for the increase in Vote 33 subhead P4 in the 1991 Book of Estimates (Abridged Version); and the way in which the £60,285,000 will be distributed.
The increased allocation in P4 of my Department's Vote — social employment scheme — takes account of the increased costs arising from improvements in the allowances paid to participants on the scheme.
Since the beginning of 1990, a child dependant allowance became payable to participants on the scheme resulting in an increase in the number of married participants with child dependants. In addition, the allowances were increased in July 1990 from £65 per week to £69 per week for participants without dependants and from £92 per week to £98.50 per week for participants with an adult dependant. The child dependant allowance was increased from up to £10 per child to up to £11 per child.
I expect the provision to fund an average participation level in the range of 10,500-11,000 during the year.